Systems, methods, and apparatus to provide artificial whisker filaments are disclosed and described. An example artificial whisker is tapered to include a tip diameter smaller than a base diameter of the artificial whisker, the artificial whisker formed from a polymer arranged to permit elastic deformation of the artificial whisker, the deformation of the artificial whisker to transmit force to a sensor associated with a base of the artificial whisker. An example method of manufacturing an artificial whisker includes removably affixing a first end of a filament to a heated, non-stick surface; drawing the filament across the surface to form a first, tapered portion, a second portion of the filament remaining on the surface, wherein the filament is to be drawn until the first portion is disengaged from the surface; and separating the first, tapered portion of the filament from the second portion of the filament to form a tapered artificial whisker.

Systems, methods, and apparatus to provide artificial whisker filaments are disclosed and described. An example artificial whisker is tapered to include a tip diameter smaller than a base diameter of the artificial whisker, the artificial whisker formed from a polymer arranged to permit elastic deformation of the artificial whisker, the deformation of the artificial whisker to transmit force to a sensor associated with a base of the artificial whisker. An example method of manufacturing an artificial whisker includes removably affixing a first end of a filament to a heated, non-stick surface; drawing the filament across the surface to form a first, tapered portion, a second portion of the filament remaining on the surface, wherein the filament is to be drawn until the first portion is disengaged from the surface; and separating the first, tapered portion of the filament from the second portion of the filament to form a tapered artificial whisker.

The invention relates to an oven for the thermal treatment of filaments, which comprises: an oven body (1) having a height greater than its width, with a first end (1.1) and a second end (1.2); conduction means (2) for conducting the filaments, comprising first rotary supports (2.1) and second rotary supports (2.2) between which the filaments are threaded; a platform (3) on which the conduction means (2) for conducting the filaments are arranged and which is pivotably arranged at the first end (1.1) of the oven body (1); and attachment means (4) attaching the platform (3) to the second end (1.2) of the oven body (1), transferring the movements of the second end (1.2) of the oven body (1) to the platform (3), such that it assures that the filaments remain parallel to one another, preventing them from becoming deformed or from coming into contact with one another.

The invention relates to an oven for the thermal treatment of filaments, which comprises: an oven body (1) having a height greater than its width, with a first end (1.1) and a second end (1.2); conduction means (2) for conducting the filaments, comprising first rotary supports (2.1) and second rotary supports (2.2) between which the filaments are threaded; a platform (3) on which the conduction means (2) for conducting the filaments are arranged and which is pivotably arranged at the first end (1.1) of the oven body (1); and attachment means (4) attaching the platform (3) to the second end (1.2) of the oven body (1), transferring the movements of the second end (1.2) of the oven body (1) to the platform (3), such that it assures that the filaments remain parallel to one another, preventing them from becoming deformed or from coming into contact with one another.

This invention involves a new and better solution to the problems associated with the premature softening of PLA filaments in the additive manufacturing of three dimensional articles. It is based upon the finding that poly(lactic acid) filaments with high crystallinity offer much better resistance to heat-induced softening. The crystalline poly(lactic acid) filament of this invention can accordingly be used in the additive manufacturing of three dimensional articles without encountering the problems associated with premature softening, such as poor quality and printer jamming The crystalline poly(lactic acid) filaments of this invention can also be used in additive manufacturing of three dimensional articles without compromising the quality of the ultimate product, reducing printing speed, increasing cost, or leading to increased printer complexity. This invention more specifically discloses a filament for use in three-dimensional printing which is comprised of crystalized poly(lactic acid), wherein said filament has a diameter which is within the range of 1.65 mm to 1.85 mm

A method and apparatus for manufacturing a carbon fiber. Pressure is applied to a filament to change a cross-sectional shape of the filament and create a plurality of distinct surfaces on the filament. The filament is converted into a graphitic carbon fiber having the plurality of distinct surfaces. A plurality of sizings is applied to the plurality of distinct surfaces of the graphitic carbon fiber in which the plurality of sizings includes at least two different sizings.

A method for producing a pleatable textile object having electrostatically charged fibres, and to a pleatable textile object is described. At least two separate dies are used, one for the production of finer fibres and one for the production of coarser fibres, using a melt spinning process. At least the first die, which is used to produce the coarser fibres, has concentric orifices. The finer and coarser fibres are mixed at least in sections during the process and are also charged electrostatically with the aid of a polar liquid. The textile object can be used to make filters with a quality factor in excess of 0.2.

This invention involves a new and better solution to the problems associated with the premature softening of PLA filaments in the additive manufacturing of three dimensional articles. It is based upon the finding that poly(lactic acid) filaments with high crystallinity offer much better resistance to heat-induced softening. The crystalline poly(lactic acid) filament of this invention can accordingly be used in the additive manufacturing of three dimensional articles without encountering the problems associated with premature softening, such as poor quality and printer jamming. The crystalline poly(lactic acid) filaments of this invention can also be used in additive manufacturing of three dimensional articles without compromising the quality of the ultimate product, reducing printing speed, increasing cost, or leading to increased printer complexity. This invention more specifically discloses a filament for use in three-dimensional printing which is comprised of crystallized poly(lactic acid), wherein said filament has a diameter which is within the range of 1.65 mm to 1.85 mm.

A method and apparatus for manufacturing a carbon fiber. Pressure is applied to a filament to change a cross-sectional shape of the filament and create a plurality of distinct surfaces on the filament. The filament is converted into a graphitic carbon fiber having the plurality of distinct surfaces. A plurality of sizings is applied to the plurality of distinct surfaces of the graphitic carbon fiber in which the plurality of sizings includes at least two different sizings.

The invention shows a spin-up device (11, 51) and a method for spinning up a spinning device (1, 101) for the continuous extrusion of molded bodies (3) from a spinning solution (6), containing a solvent and cellulose dissolved in the solvent, wherein the molded bodies are extruded from the spinning solution (6) through spinnerets (7) of the spinning device (1, 101) in the form of a loose spinning curtain (2), the molded bodies (3) of the loose spinning curtain (2) are combined into a molded body bundle (4) after the extrusion, and the molded body bundle (4) is, in a further step, fed to a draw-off member (10) of the spinning device (1, 101) in order to start a continuous extrusion of the molded bodies (3). In order to make the spin-up method simpler in terms of process technology and more reproducible, it is proposed to increase the tensile strength of at least some areas of the molded bodies (3) of the loose spinning curtain (2) after their extrusion and before combining them into a molded body bundle (4).